The Pittsburgh Press (October 9, 1944)
‘BIG FOUR’ NATIONS REVEAL PLAN FOR LEAGUE TO ENSURE PEACE
Question of veto power over ‘aggressor’ still must be solved
Organization to be called ‘the United Nations;’ Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin may meet soon
Washington (UP) –
The Big Four nations, determined that “the sacrifices of this war shall not be in vain,” today unveiled a still-to-be-completed charter for a world peace organization backed by the armed might of its members and empowered to call on special air force units for “urgent military measures.”
The proposed organization would be called “the United Nations.” Briefly, it would consist of a policymaking General Assembly of all peace-loving nations, an economic and social council of 18 nations to deal with “humanitarian” aspects of international relations, a World Court of Justice and a Security Council of 11 nations – including the United States, Great Britain, Russia, China, and “in due course” France as permanent members – whose primary responsibility would be maintenance of peace through pacific, economic or military means.
The recommendations did not go into the vital matter of just how the Security Council would order “the United Nations’” military power into action in the event of a threat to peace.
Still to be resolved, presumably at “higher levels,” is the all-important issue of voting procedure in the Security Council if one of the permanent members should become a party to a dispute. The question to be answered is: Could such a member veto the decisions of the others?
“The United Nations” would not be merely an emergency organization to function only when world peace was jeopardizes by overt aggression. It would concern itself with fundamental economic, social and other “humanitarian” stresses and strains.
Control of armaments
It would also concern itself – through the Security Council – with plans for regulation of armaments so that international peace and security could be promoted “with the least diversion of the world’s human and economic resources for armaments.”
Individual members of “the United Nations” would contribute their air, naval and military strength according to criteria and procedures yet to be agreed upon.
The Security Council would direct the use of these forces through an international high command – “a military staff committee” – composed of staff representatives of the Council’s five permanent members.
Plan incomplete
The recommendations unveiled today were the fruit of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference attended here by representatives of the Big Four. Admittedly incomplete, they are proposals only. The governments represented at Dumbarton Oaks have agreed, however, to take steps “as soon as possible” to prepare “complete proposals” to serve “as a basis of discussion at a full United Nations conference.”
The next move may well be consideration of the proposals, and the resolution of problems left hanging at Dumbarton Oaks, by President Roosevelt, Premier Joseph Stalin and Prime Minister Winston Churchill at a meeting in the reasonably near future. The full United Nations conference would follow.
Diplomatic observers believe the three will meet after the Nov. 7 election – if Mr. Roosevelt wins the fourth-term race. If he is defeated, other plans would have to be made.